The 10 Most Innovative Video Games of 2012

Explosive visuals, unique gameplay, and sore thumbs. These are the hallmarks of a truly innovative game, one that makes you keep playing long after you picked up the controller. And while the megafranchises like Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty get most of the love and make most of the bucks, there were plenty of less-publicized but innovative titles this year.

The Unfinished Swan

The Unfinished Swan

Platform: PS3

Games should create a sense of wonder. In The Unfinished Swan, you start out being the one who creates the wonder. The story, in which a boy pursues a swan that has escaped from a painting, begins by having you fling black paint blobs to reveal the game world. You decide how much you want to reveal or leave hidden. Later, you hurl water blobs that cause vines to grow. The best moments in this relatively short game are when you stop to look around. The immersion comes from being in control of how much you see, even during a few traditional platforming sections.

Journey

Journey

Platform: PS3

In Journey, you play as an unnamed character who looks likes like an extra from the movie Lawrence of Arabia. The flowing robes snap in the wind, and the stark desert sand undulating around you becomes a character in the game.

Part of the enjoyment of Journey is simply figuring out what it is; not all of the gameplay elements are obvious. Do you need to collect ribbons or touch them? There are no clear goals, and at times you might decide to explore for fun. There's even a hint of Ico, the critically acclaimed exploration game for the PS2 released back in 2001. As in that game you have an AI sidekick who sojourns with you.